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Bengal Congress, Left parties reject Mamata Banerjee’s opposition alliance offer
West Bengal’s opposition parties rejected Mamata Banerjee’s offer to form a broader anti-BJP front, signaling continued fragmentation among anti-TMC and anti-BJP forces. Banerjee had urged unity including national parties and Left/ultra-Left groups, while CPI(M) and Congress dismissed the proposal. The rejection follows BJP’s statewide victory in the latest polls.
Why It Matters
The split among opposition forces in West Bengal could shape the state’s political dynamics and broader national anti-BJP strategy, potentially affecting future elections and coalitions.
Timeline
3 Events
Opposition rejects Banerjee’s offer
May 10, 2026
On May 10, 2026, opposition parties rejected Banerjee’s outreach. CPI(state secretary) Md Salim said, 'Absolutely not. We will not accept anyone identified as criminal, extortionist, corrupt and communal.' Congress spokesperson Soumya Aich Roy criticized the idea of including 'ultra-Left' groups and referenced the 2016 alliance; CPI state secretary Swapan Banerjee said democracy was in peril during Banerjee’s regime and she was authoritarian for not resigning after defeat; CPI(M) leader Abhijit Majumdar described Mamata Banerjee as a Rightist leader who represented a repressive government and urged Left forces to unite for a bigger battle.
Banerjee proposes opposition unity (proposal date)
May 9, 2026
Mamata Banerjee proposed building a broad anti-BJP front and invited national parties as well as Leftists and ultra-Leftists to unite in Bengal and Delhi, adding that she was available to speak to any party: 'Along with the national parties, I urge the Leftists and the ultra-Leftists to unite in Bengal as well as in Delhi. If any political party wants to speak to me, I am available.'
2016: 13-party alliance in Bengal assembly polls referenced
2016
Soumya Aich Roy cited the 2016 alliance of 13 parties, including the Congress and Left Front, which contested against the TMC in the 2016 Bengal assembly polls and secured 77 seats.